My obsession with bricks evolves on the regular. The idea behind these is to create an architectural vessel reminding me of the Southwest and the desert I grew up in. The carved bricks and textured walls serve as a canvas for my fleeting Spanglish thoughts, sometimes being washed away becoming illegible to read.
BRICK CUPS
Mi obsesión por los ladrillos evoluciona periódicamente. La idea detrás de esto es crear una embarcación arquitectónica que me recuerde el suroeste y el desierto en el que crecí. Los ladrillos tallados y las paredes texturizadas sirven como lienzo para mis fugaces pensamientos en spanglish, que a veces se borran y se vuelven ilegibles para leer.
Current work
Gallery
This series of works is inspired by the Mexican blanket called “Zarapes”. Colorful and bright, these pieces are meant to keep your favorite food and drinks warm.
ZARAPEs
Current work
Esta serie de obras se inspiró de la cobija mexicana llamada “Zarapes”. Coloridas y brillantes, estas piezas están diseñadas para mantener calientes tus comidas y bebidas favoritas.
Gallery
Never lose your rings with your saguaro friends. I made these as a fun addition to keep your jewelry from getting lost. They stand tall and proud and will keep your treasures safe.
CACTUS RING HOLDERS
Current work
Nunca pierdes tus anillos con mis amigos saguaros. Los hice como una adición divertida para evitar que tus joyas se pierdan. Se mantienen erguidos y orgullosos y mantendrán sus tesoros a salvo.
Gallery
Clay Studio holiday show
now-December 21
Pieces featured in this show include a mix of current work, including brick cups, cactus ring holders, and zarape pottery.
The Clay Studio of Missoula will be hosting their annual Holiday Open House on Saturday December 14 from 2-5pm. There will be free artist demonstrations by the resident artists instructors.
2022
wildfire solo show
Señales y reflejos
This work is inspired by my time spent here in Missoula. As a Latina ceramic artist in a predominantly white population, one of the biggest things I miss about the southwest is my raza (culture). To celebrate my culture and Latin heritage month I created a series that blends both my Mexican and American roots; the “MON-teria” mugs blends my love of the Mexican bingo game “La loteria” (the lottery) and very recognizable motifs of Missoula/Montana culture. Señales reflects the street signs I envision placed on the roads and the community ofrenda Reflejos is an invitation to celebrate our loved ones that passed to the afterlife as celebrated by Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead.).
Gallery
2020
POST BACC EXIT SHOW
en memoria
Family separation is not arbitrary; it’s the result of a broken and unjust system. Asylum seekers arrive at the border seeking safety but are met with harsh conditions, including children confined in windowless "kennels" and families torn apart without answers. "En Memoria" honors the children who lost their lives in custody or after release, inspired by my obsession with spray cans and graffiti. Each ceramic spray can is engraved with portraits and details of these children, reflecting their journeys and the painful reality of their deaths. This work is a personal reflection on my own family's struggles and a reminder that family separation is ongoing. It serves as a call to remember and demand justice for the children still waiting to be reunited with their families.
Gallery
2019
Artist in Residence
Western New Mexico University
DIVIDed
Growing up in Douglas, AZ, I experienced the border not as a threat, but as part of daily life, with people crossing to seek a better future, not to steal jobs. Despite the political rhetoric, the border isn’t a national security crisis—it's been manufactured as one. Families risk everything to seek asylum, only to face the possibility of separation upon arrival. In my series DIVIDED, I use clay spray cans to explore the emotional impact of family separation. Instead of graffiti, I engrave the stories of families’ journeys onto the cans, with imagery depicting their struggles and the barrier imposed on them. The cinderblocks represent the physical and emotional walls these families face, particularly the children, who suffer the most. My work aims to witness and challenge our nation’s moral stance on human rights, offering viewers a chance to reflect on the real cost of these policies.
Gallery
2018
Artist in residence
Western New Mexcio University
Body Dismorphia
This exhibition reflects my experience with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a mental condition where individuals obsess over perceived physical flaws. Growing up in a Hispanic culture that emphasized the importance of beauty and the "perfect" body, I internalized these ideals, influenced by childhood toys like Barbie dolls. Their unrealistic proportions led me to obsess over my own body, causing both physical and mental distress. The abstracted Barbies in my work, with their imperfections and shattered forms, mirror the insecurities of BDD. The removal of their smiles and the use of varied clay colors express the range of emotions I felt—sadness, anger, and confusion—during this struggle. The brick texture symbolizes stability and the process of rebuilding strength and confidence, ultimately helping me embrace my body’s imperfections. Creating these sculptures has been a cathartic way to confront the societal pressures that shaped my distorted self-image and to find healing.
Gallery
2019
BFA Thesis Show BUilding blocks of me
Cinder blocks are ubiquitous, used in construction or often left unnoticed in abandoned places. In my work, I focus on these common objects to explore their deeper meaning. Inspired by trompe l'oeil, I recreate cinder blocks in clay, creating the illusion of reality. Traditionally valued for their strength, I strip away their layers to reveal their vulnerability, reflecting how even stable structures, like people, can become fragile. As I carved each layer, I formed a personal connection with the object, using graffiti stencils to express feelings of being trapped, free, or overwhelmed. The words, in both English and Spanish, hint at personal struggles and invite viewers to take a closer look at the beauty in vulnerability.
